When designing a car service building the main challenge is to organize two very different functional programs.

On one hand, administrative area, essentially internal, which have the same requirements as an office building: internal flexibility to face future changes, working areas with natural light, appropriate working temperature…

On the other hand, the service area, which is basically external and is a wide space divided by the service lines and their machinery.

In front of this dichotomy SAU Taller de Arquitectura raises the idea of working with a building within another. The comfort level required for the service area is the minimum one compared to the building as a whole. In this area the building will protect us from the main meteorological agents (rain, wind…). By achieving this requirement we get the first thermical step that improves working conditions and protects machinery. For that reason a general skin was designed to act as a first filter which will protect not only the service area but also the administrative module understood as a building in itself.

The whole skin is understood as one single façade, to sort it out cellular polycarbonate of 4cm thickness was the choice for being a light material with low ecological footprint, easy to recycle , with high thermal performance and allows light to go through. 4 different intensities of blue tones are located along the façade depending on solar radiation, forming a gradual transition where darkest tones face south.

A 50cm panel is used as a module to shape the façade of this 25m width, 30m long and 7m height building. A light structure sits on square tubular profiles of 17mm located on a 10 by 10 meters matrix. This matrix gives equitable hierarchy to the structural system and its covered with square pyramids made by boyd and rectangular profiles which are cable-stayed with 20mm diameter rebars working as a fink structure. An open area is left at the top of the pyramids to catch natural light and provide natural ventilation through venturi effect.

The administrative area building which is located inside the polycarbonate skin has 2 levels, is 30m long and 5m width and occupies the same space as one service line. This area is designed as well with metallic structure, with light decking plate slabs and to solve thermal comfort, internal walls are made by plasterboard with rock-wool insulation. Internal partitions are made by panels and screens giving huge space flexibility complemented with an access flooring for MEP.

The functional programm is organized by levels of privacy: on one side public open areas, like main reception or waiting area, and on the other side internal usage areas which can be divided into private (offices) and common (administrative and pantry).

Both, in public open areas and in common internal areas, openings (doors and windows) go through the skin to rich the exterior. That way users can control the building from inside and enjoy public realm at the same time.

The technical aspect of the program is accentuated by a great rationality into the organisation of its functions. This rationality allowed a one way traffic system, synonymous of safety in this constrained area.

All the devices set up to offer a real optimization of working conditions, in terms of team safety, spatiality, acoustic conditions, light qualities, materials and relationship with the close environment.

]]>https://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/2017/04/30/trucks-maintenance-centre-in-britany-france-by-raum/feed/0412322Heavenly Water Service Center of International Horticultural Exposition 2014 in Qingdao, China by HHD_FUNhttps://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/2015/05/17/heavenly-water-service-center-of-international-horticultural-exposition-2014-in-qingdao-china-by-hhd_fun/
https://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/2015/05/17/heavenly-water-service-center-of-international-horticultural-exposition-2014-in-qingdao-china-by-hhd_fun/#respondSun, 17 May 2015 07:09:47 +0000http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/?p=280284Article source: HHD_FUN

The International Horticultural Exposition 2014 opened in Qingdao on April 25th; the two service centers, “Heavenly Water (Tianshui)” and “Earthy Pond (Dichi)”, are named after the two extant lakes on Baiguo Mountain where the buildings are respectively located. As the primary architecture of the Expo area, the buildings undertook multiple functions including circulation hub, activity center, restaurant, recreational landscape, cultural communication, exhibition, etc. Considering the distinctive nature of the architecture and its geographical location, the following unique relationships require particular design treatments.

Architecture vs. Architecture – The service centers sit on the same central axial as the Expo Theme Pavilion, the building placement at such a significant location will require design treatment of the relationship between the “invisible” and the “visible”; i.e. the accentuation of the Theme Pavilion from afar, and yet have its own draw in proximity.

Architecture vs. Environment – The Baiguo Mountain and the Heavenly Water and Earthy Pond lakes where the named project is located have outstanding natural landscape. Given the prominent location of the buildings by the lakes, the design treatment of the relationship between architecture and nature is vital to the deliverance of their organic integration.

Architecture vs. Human – Due to the unique nature of the service centers, which have to handle large circulation flow, the design has to ensure visitors from all directions can reach the service center area swiftly; and at the same time, it has to provide for visitors who can’t gain access into the service centers momentarily as a venue for viewing and resting.

In response to these issues, the designers proposed “landform architecture” as a design solution:

Through the reasonable use of the differences in natural gradients, the architecture and its setting are engaged as an integrated design, where the functions are placed and classed following the different grade levels, minimizing the architecture volume while maintaining the best possible view orientation. The architecture is split into two levels conferring to the natural landform: the second floor roof is flush with the street level, lessening the presence of the building volume as much as possible such that it does not press upon the Theme Pavilion on the north side, and providing visitor access to the rooftop platform for viewing of the natural landscape. The main restaurants of the first and second floors are facing the lakes, such that the visitors can have the best possible viewing experience; auxiliary functions such as supermarket and service stations are located under the rooftop platform for ease of access.

Preservation of the extant landform, landscape and vegetation to the greatest extent. For instance, the small island east of the Heavenly Water Service Center has preserved its original landscape with addition of new elements such as the poplar tree forest.

A multi-trail system has being employed in order to provide maximum visitor experience and accessibility. The multi-trail system is the provision of more than one visiting routes while ensuring maximum accessibility and conveniences, such that the visitors can take different routes back and forth, enjoying the various function and landscapes along the way.

More and more electrical vehicles travel the streets of Gothenburg, Sweden. Therefore the city asked KKA to design three charging stations serving electrical cars, bikes, mopeds and trucks. The loading stations should not only provide a practical function, they should also stand as symbols for a new more sustainable city.

The charging stations come in three sizes all with the same formal language for recognition. They are built using FSC-certified local wood. To provide a smooth and safe logistics cars are separated from bikes and mopeds as they are parked on an elevated ramp. A roof tilted towards the south and covered with solar cells provides shelter for the cars. The solar cells are estimated to provide most of the energy used for charging the vehicles.

As charging a car or bike might take around 15-20 minutes there are some activities offered for the people waiting for a full battery. There is a bike repair shop, an outdoor gym and free Wi-Fi. The center of the building opens up to a small courtyard housing a grass lawn and a café pavilion.

This design is in response to the growing need to repair and upgrade aging infrastructure that is vital to the United States. America’s Hi-Speed Rail network, originally built during the 20th century, has become physically outdated and technologically obsolete. Therefore, our approach is to not only bring these elements up to modern standards, but to look forward to the promise of future possibilities, and communicate this architecturally.

Empirically gathered information from direct interaction with the rail facilities and users, supplemented with academic research, has informed our design process and inspired us to propose these facilities in order to meet the growing needs of the Hi-Speed Rail system. This Hi-Speed Maintenance facility would equip the rail system to address the imminent service and repair needs required by the major Hi-Speed Rail line running between Boston and Washington DC, and provide a precedent for a comprehensive US rail system.

Within the landscape surrounding the city of Mons, lies intermittent craggy piles of millstone which emerge through the panorama of a surrounding flat typography. This so called ‘terrils’ find their origins in the former mining industries and are commonly perceived as striking elements dotted within a flat panorama. Besides the landscape having been shaped through a number of linear infrastructures such as railways, highways and channelled waterways; the E19 and the service areas cut through the landscape to become geometric ribbons that visually demarcate the landscape.

The volumetric patterns that arise through the undulating flows of this location provide a striking composition. The intermediate areas located between the geometries shape traffic flow through shallow meandering green hills. This wavy/rolling design defines the structure of the terrain and suggests a visual dialogue between landscape and building. The green hills provide a balance to the stony arrangement of the service forecourt. The simplicity of the surrounding landscape ensures that the service station is seen as a striking object – a visual marker along the busy highway.

Image Courtesy ABSCIS Architecten

In the centre of the plan, a pedestrian path divides the traffic areas from green landscaped spaces intended for relaxation. The central walkingaxis offers the possibility to relax and access the terrain safely in order to reach the service station. By organising specific service station facilities logically and carefully, an obvious safe and comfortable environment is created.

Los Angeles based United Oil Company began incorporating modern architecture and unique interior design elements into their Southern California service stations in the early 80’s, shifting the way consumers experience pumping gas. Since then, the Company has redefined the service station Industry, creating flagship designs, using top-line materials such as hand cut slate, molded copper, and eclectic themes – all influences driven by the architectural vision of United Oil Co. vice president, Jeff Appel. The privately owned, family-run business recently celebrated 50 years in business, and are known for creating incredibly clean, vibrant, and artistic gas stations throughout Southern California – now operating 124 stations to date.

Image Courtesy Erman Smith

Architects: Jon Enache, United Oil Co., 2012

Project: United Oil Company Service Stations

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA

Image Courtesy Erman Smith

In the early 1980’s, United Oil service stations introduced new landscaping elements such as unique flooring, pillars, colors, foliage, bougainvillea, and eccentric animal sculptures into the overall planning of future stations. This was the start of Appel’s modern vision for United Oil venues – for consumers to experience a unique atmosphere at an otherwise typically mundane A to B gas station, and be inspired.

Image Courtesy Erman Smith

“Each location inspires me differently,” says United Oil vice president, Jeff Appel. “I have a genuine passion and keen interest with Architecture – each station offers tremendous potential for creativity, localization, modernism and an innovative spirit which helps shape our future and fuel our growth at each location.” Select United Oil service stations are notable for its use of clean lines, glass, natural and manufactured resources, and use of localizing indoor and outdoor spaces. Incorporating local influences into the overall vision of a station, combined with the adaptive use of inventive materials, modern construction techniques, local Architects, and new technologies – has positioned the Company as innovators in those respective fields.

Image Courtesy Erman Smith

Besides architecturally inspired efforts, United Oil includes energy efficient technology into select stations. They recently unveiled a new service station featuring pumps powered with unique Panasonic HIT Double® solar panels as a canopy to help provide power to the store and its pumps for their new “Rapid 84” gas station in Cerritos, California. Panasonic HIT Double panels are unique because they produce energy from sunlight on both the top surface, like normal solar panels, and also from the bottom surface, from scattered and reflected light. The bifacial solar canopy is expected to provide about 75% of the station’s annual energy needs.

Image Courtesy Erman Smith

One particular station, Rapid 03, is decked out with Jetson’s like architecture, located at the busy corner of La Brea and Slauson in Los Angeles. The circular ramps, roller coaster-like design combines futuristic lines adorned with chrome lighting – creating more of an attraction, rather than a gas station.

Image Courtesy Erman Smith

Another station, Apro 2 Appel looked to Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi to inspire the pink and blue windowpanes, with designing a 26-foot tower on-site, utilizing imported Italian tiles, and with creating a glass adorned waterfall as an exterior feature. Another stand out station, Apro 31, includes a western themed antique barrel, old ore wagons as props behind the cash register, and aligned along the exterior of another station, concrete wooden planks create an elaborate Wild-Wild-West theme. Other stations include Mediterranean influences with hand painted murals from local graffiti artists, hand blown glass fixtures to create mood lighting, and rustic color palettes that blend convenience with modern interior designs.

Image Courtesy Erman Smith

United Oil has steadily expanded over the past 50 years, and today owns over 100 stations, making it one of the largest independent gas retailers in California. The company also owns a number of stations leased under the brands Chevron, Conoco 76, Shell and Arco. United Oil is a gasoline wholesaler operating 17 tanker trucks, and is known to charge three cents less than its competitors per gallon.

Image Courtesy Erman Smith

Additionally, United Oil Co. spearheads a number of community initiatives throughout the year, including the annual ‘I Got It Makes Cents for Charity’ campaign, an effort to garner awareness for 501c 3 organizations that are in need of funding. In 2009, United Oil donated $24,000 to Haven House, a domestic violence shelter that helps abused women and their children, and in 2010, United Oil donated $80,000 to Operation Smile, who provides free surgeries to repair facial deformities for children around the globe. Last year’s winner of the I Got It Makes Cents campaign, went to the Community Distribution Center (CDC) that provides food for Southern California food banks. The 2012 Contest is now underway, with over 50 non-profit organizations nominated to win the funding.

United Oil has also entered into the digital space with the implementation of an in-house production studio located at the corporate headquarters. The studio produces high-quality training and management videos for employees, and produces content for the 24/7 “GSTV” (Gas Station TV) digital Television Network, that can be seen when pumping gas at various United Oil owned locations. This past spring, United Oil launched a unique mobile application that features specific locations, merchandise specials, deals and current gas prices at all of their locations. The United Oil Co App is available to download on iTunes and in the Android Store. For further information about the United Oil Company, visit http://www.unitedoilco.com/

ABOUT UNITED OIL COMPANY:

United Oil Co., uniting the brands you trust, was started over 50 years ago as a small, family owned company operating a handful of gas stations in Los Angeles. Since then, the Company has grown in size while maintaining its tradition of exceptional service, retailing excellence and value. United Oil Co.’s first class retail facilities are operated with the belief that it is more important to provide the customer with a pleasant buying experience, rather than just another visit to a gas station. Today the company operates 124 retail stations comprised of 51 United Oil Stations, 26 Chevron Stations, 53 Conoco “76” Stations, as well as select Shell Stations throughout Southern California from San Diego to Ventura County. While pride of ownership is apparent when one visits a United Oil Co. owned retail outlet, it is the mission of the Company to educate employees with the “I Got It!” philosophy; a mission that promotes kindness and respect for others. For more information, please visit www.unitedoilco.com.

The building is surrounded by the Headquarters buildings (built during the 80’s) and the rest of the Centre foundational buildings (built during the 60’s), all of them designed by Architect Antonio Pinzani.

A particular geometry characterizes those buildings from 60’s: thin double curved concrete surfaces (Hyperbolic Paraboloids or HYPAR) cover spaces such as restaurants, theatre, access area, etc. The use of these shells as umbrellas makes evident the architect’s intention to create spaces sensible to the weather and the surroundings. For the Headquarter building, 20 years apart from the first ones, Pinzani makes use of a similar design strategy taking it to the next level: a single roof, at a bigger scale, cover several fluid spaces of different hierarchy with its shadow.

When the shadow creates the volume:
The design process was stimulated by an “a priori” value given in the tropics to the shadowed spaces. When Armando Reverón attempted to highlight the blinding light of the Caribbean in his paintings, he started working them out from a white canvas a priori stained with shadows. Is it then possible to think on an architectural composition that attempts to highlight the shadows by working out with lights staining a dark plane?

Image Courtesy Roberto Puchetti

The design process is based on the inversion of the relationship LIGHT-SHADOW into SHADOW-LIGHT, that is, it started by drawing the shadows needed a priori, followed by the volumes and roofs that should correspond to such shadows. The result is a roof which organizes and dominates the composition while emphasizes the fluidity of the spaces between the volumes containing the program. The facades, generated through the inversion described above, are composed of a north facing regular volume and a series of irregular volumes facing south. Due to the faceted geometry of its soffit, the roof becomes both a shadowing device as well as an aesthetic element, creating different shadows intensities.

Image Courtesy Roberto Puchetti

The roof:

temperature controlling and water collecting device.
During the entire design process the sustainability of the proposal was given special attention both in terms of the environmental impact and the economy of means. The structural system became extremely efficient when the number of pillars was reduced from 12 to 8, achieving a cost reduction of 30% on the original budget. Another 25% of savings was achieved on the amount of concrete and steel due to the design of the arc shaped retaining wall to the South of the site. Such element works as a monolithic structure responding in a more efficient way to the lateral forces of the mountain nearby.

Image Courtesy Roberto Puchetti

Likewise, from an environmental point of view a reduction in energy consumption was possible (22.5Kw/hr): the considerable amount of shadows produced by the roof helps avoiding the use of any air conditioning system and reduces the interior temperature in 6 degrees, creating comfortable spaces. In June (the hottest month) the building is protected enough from solar radiation and in December the shadow covers up to 95% the space.

The roof is made out of four calyces, each one of them supported by a column which acts as funnel allowing the collection of rain water captured by the calyces. This simple system helps save hundreds of liters by collecting a considerable amount of water per month. The collected water is used for charging WC cisterns, cleaning of floors and irrigation of green and sports areas.

Image Courtesy Roberto Puchetti

The scarce budget meant that the use of sophisticated technological systems of environmental control were out of reach. The architect could only count on Architecture and its elements (solar orientation, natural ventilation, dimensions and proportions of architectural elements) as the tool to negotiate with weather constraints.

Kaohsiung city is a port and, as many other ports is in a situation of changing. The reasons of this changing have been very well analysed by many.. factories that move their production somewhere else. the decreasing of the traffic on the sea.. and many others depending on the particular locations. New York and London already provided, at least partially, to reconvert the unused piers or the part of the city close to the sea or the river previously dedicated to the maritime traffic to other destinations and a different life. The case of Kaohsiung is somehow similar, but there is a difference in the conception of the changing and the strategy related. Many cities just dismissed their piers and their warfs because they were useless and decided to dedicate these part of the city to new and different destinations.

Software used: The projects are redacted using mostly 3dstudio max with the eventual contribution of autocad, with different renderings engines, in particular we have used mental ray.

Port and Cruise Service Center

This strategy is definitely necessary in some case, but in some other way is depriving the city of its own nature and original vocation.
This could be a step for a better future of sea cities, but to think at New York or some other place with a similar destiny, could be a little bit sad.

The case of Kaohsiung is different.
It is obvious that a big transformation is going on in the area of the harbour and is obvious also that we are witnessing at a considerable reduction of the activities strictly related with the sea.
New projects are going to be developed and built in the harbour area and the panorama will be really different in few years.
But Kaohsiung looks to have an idea, even and especially through this project, that is not the idea of the dismission and even if the intent is to change a part of the city, the spirit looks to be to not upset the situation.

Port and Cruise Service Center

That’s way a project for a ferry terminal, intended in a contemporary way, that can improve and increase the traffic on the sea and the quality of the traffic itself.

But considering that this zone needs to be revitalized in consideration of the facts exposed previously, the terminal is not only a place where people arrive or leave, but is a place where different activity will convert and a place open to the rest of the city as well to the world.
To make this real a functional re-organization has to be provided first and a different state of mind has to be the engine of the transformation.

Port and Cruise Service Center

Quality architecture is a media to develop and condense this new variety of horizon in a contemporary panorama.
In consideration of the fact that Kaohsiung is developing the transformation of its port in a logical ambitious way, even the architecture expressing this attitude should be ambitious.
A project for a ferry terminal that has to be a new part of the city, enter in contact with it, improve the maritime traffic and attract new visitors and local people, should be an expression of these intention and in an expressive way.
Should be a place where the city and its people recognize itself and where the visitors enter a new exiting environment.
For these reasons, especially today, airports, stations and ferry terminal become very particular places and in many cases architecture emphasize the importance of the statement that a building like this should state.

Port and Cruise Service Center

That’s way we want to propose, according with the guidelines and the budget, a project that is ambitious, unique and related both to the particularity of the place and the vocation to be an international attraction and a built symbol of quality and culture.

Transpositon/Idea

The wave

The idea we developed through our project respects what has been said till now. We want to build a unique building who respects the local nature of the site and express the ambition of a real changing. According to the first topic, we wanted to be related to the city and the site. We thought at the sea as a natural and instinctive relation between the city the nature an the theme of the project. But the sea is mostly flat and doesn’t fit with an idea of construction, We thought at a wave. A wave is dynamic, expresses the idea of a continuous exchange of forces, is structural following precise rules, create space and is beautiful. The shape of a wave looked to us perfectly fitting our desire of combine in a gentle but strong way, the city, the sea, the local and the far away, the people and the visitors.

Port and Cruise Service Center

We started from the idea of the wave to invent a form as dynamic and expressive as we could but adapting the created shape to the spaces required for the ferry terminal and the related activities. A wave is strong but also spectacular, dramatic, but beautiful. The form of a wave is sharp, precise, the surface of a wave is smooth and perfect. We thought at a wave going to the sea, not coming from it, as an abstract interpretation of the phenomena, as a “conversation” with the sea, Our wave wants to be attractive and somehow establish a a relationship of equality with the sea. We liked the geometry of the way, precise, but always changing, never predictable, complex but harmonic, fluid but structural and strong. We liked also the surfaces of a wave, smooth, shining and reflecting. We wanted to build the “life in a moment” and the diversity of every wave, we wanted to build its poetry and its charm.

Port and Cruise Service Center

The Space
Geometry and We intended the space of the terminal and the offices (and the other activities provided in the future for the area close to the project area, area B and C) as unified by the structure of a long wave. This allows to create a continuous space that could be closed and open, covered in many points and open in others, connected, but possibly separated. The wave partially covers and organizes a linear strip with various activities not necessary related to the terminal and a long green space intersecting in many ways these activities. The space created under the wave is free of obstacles as much as possible and connects the different activities in a fluid and harmonic way. The form is fluid itself, curving from the city to the sea.
From the city will present itself as a strong curve to enter in, from the sea a surface, smooth and elegant, reflecting in the sun.
As a wave, even our form will be unpredictable, complex but not complicated, harmonic and integrated with it own life, the city and the sea.

Port and Cruise Service Center

Structure and skin

The structure sustaining the wave will follow the shape of the wave itself. The metal trusses will part of a double structural net connected in order to gain strength and stability. Reticular pillars connect with the double net where the load of the curve is more present and release the loads on the sole. A light skin of metal panels wraps the whole structure; holes are provided where more light is needed and glass panels close the building, if is necessary to have a covered area. The separated areas, terminal, offices ( and the other areas to be built in the future… services, bars, stores..) are enclosed by glasses and oscurated by curtains. The façade on the south of the building is provided by changing inclination strips of solar panels, acting also as brise soleil (see detail). Air circulation is always provide in the interior of every space and shadows in mabi part of the building.

The VIP Car Wash is located at 452 South Avenue at the corner of Forest Avenue and South Avenue, Staten Island, NY. The state of the art facility utilizes the latest in car wash technology and also contains a lube center. The architects utilized color and transparency to create a building that celebrates cars. Flooded with natural light, the building turns the humdrum task of getting your car cleaned and the oil changed in to an experience of color, light and motion.

Orange and blue glazed concrete block is used throughout with extensive glazing and use of metal. Custom fabricated aluminum canopies grace the exterior, and a custom fabricated perforated aluminum wavy ceiling diffuses the light from the skylight over the wash tunnel. The architects designed the counters and all of the retail display fixtures, which all relate to the exterior canopies.